Recycling Lives Services
Site Manager
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Site Manager
Location: Isabella Road, Workington
Hours: Monday–Friday, 40 hours per week
Salary: £50,000–£55,000 depending on experience
The Opportunity
We’re looking for an experienced Site Manager to lead our battery sorting facility in Workington through an exciting period of operational development and investment.
You’ll take overall responsibility for the safe, compliant and efficient day-to-day operation of the site, leading our people, performance, safety and environmental standards.
This is also an opportunity to play a key role in the next stage of the site’s development. Our current operation is predominantly manual, but we are preparing to introduce new mechanical and automated sorting technology. You’ll lead the site through that transition, working closely with our Projects and HSEQ teams to successfully integrate new equipment, processes and ways of working while maintaining operational performance.
It’s a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance people, safety, compliance and commercial performance, while bringing their team with them through change.
What You’ll Be Doing
As Site Manager, you’ll:
- Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day performance of the Workington site, including safety, quality, throughput, compliance and cost.
- Lead, engage and develop the site team, creating clear accountability and high standards of performance.
- Ensure robust health, safety and environmental standards across battery handling, sorting and storage activities.
- Maintain compliance with environmental permits, waste regulations, Company procedures and customer requirements.
- Manage site budgets, labour costs, operational KPIs and resource requirements.
- Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, stock control and operational planning.
- Lead incident and near-miss investigations and ensure appropriate actions are implemented.
- Work closely with Project Engineering and equipment suppliers to support the installation and commissioning of new automated sorting equipment.
- Lead changes to workflows, staffing structures and ways of working as the site transitions towards greater automation.
- Support the reskilling and development of employees as roles and operational requirements evolve.
- Maintain effective risk assessments, SOPs, training and competency standards.
- Build strong relationships with senior leadership, customers, suppliers, regulators and other internal stakeholders.
- Drive continuous improvement across safety, efficiency, cost, quality and operational performance.
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What We’re Looking For
You’ll be an experienced operational leader who is comfortable taking ownership of a busy site and developing both its people and its performance.
Ideally, you’ll bring:
- Proven site or operations management experience, ideally within waste, recycling, manufacturing, hazardous materials or a similarly operational environment.
- Strong health and safety knowledge and a practical understanding of managing operational risk.
- Experience leading and developing a manual or labour-intensive workforce.
- An understanding of environmental compliance and regulated operational environments.
- Experience managing budgets, labour costs and operational performance.
- Strong people leadership, communication and change-management skills.
- The confidence to challenge, make decisions and take accountability for site performance.
- Experience of plant installations, automation, mechanisation or capital projects would be particularly valuable, as would a NEBOSH/IOSH qualification or previous experience within battery, WEEE or waste operations.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role will mean maintaining a safe, compliant and high-performing operation while successfully leading the site through its next stage of development.
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You’ll build an engaged and capable team, improve operational efficiency and cost performance, maintain strong quality and safety standards, and help deliver the transition to increased automation without compromising day-to-day service or compliance.
The Business
Recycling Lives Services is not a typical recycling company.
Since 2008, our business has been built around creating meaningful social and environmental value alongside commercial success. We employ people from disadvantaged backgrounds, work with the justice system to help reduce reoffending and deliver environmental excellence at scale.
As a certified B Corp, scoring 103.5 against a business median of 50.9, Recycling Lives Services generated £42.9m in social value in 2024, achieved a 61% reduction in CO₂ emissions and diverted 97% of waste from landfill. 15% of our team have joined us through our rehabilitation programmes.
Our PACE values underpin how we work:
- Passion – we care about what we do.
- Accountability – we take responsibility.
- Collaboration – we work together respectfully.
- Excellence – we aim high.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £50,000–£55,000 depending on experience
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Company pension – 5% employee / 3% employer
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Free financial wellbeing support
- Healthcare Cash Plan*
- Cycle to Work Scheme*
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay*
- The opportunity to lead a key operational site through significant investment and transformation
- The chance to work for a certified B Corp making a genuine social and environmental impact
*Available after 12 months’ service.
Recycling Lives Services is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.
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